Category: Elementary News
Athletic director joins Liberty CSD
Thomas Zehner joined Liberty Central School District as its athletic director on July 1.
Mr. Zehner earned his bachelor’s degree from Sage College of Albany in K-12 physical education, a master’s degree in health, recreation and physical education from Emporia State University and a Certification of Advanced Study in School Leadership from SUNY New Paltz
Before coming to Liberty, Mr. Zehner was an elementary physical education teacher in Beacon City School District since September 2017. While at Beacon he was also the Adapted Physical Education Curriculum coordinator for four years and hosted 10 student teachers at the elementary level as a cooperating teacher for student teachers for six years. He also served as a coach for soccer, basketball, tennis, softball and lacrosse at Beacon.
He said he wants to build upon past successes at Liberty and hopes to increase participation in the Redhawks sports programs.
To do this he said he wants to help support existing youth sports programs in the community, as well as build programs to introduce younger students to sports in the schools, in accordance with the Redhawks Champion Plan introduced last year.
Expanding the Athletes Helping Athletes can be a big part of that, he said.
“Mentoring is great,” Mr. Zehner said, “but if we can get our older athletes to assist more in the elementary and middle schools, we can better build that sense of Redhawk community and Liberty pride.”
He said he could see students helping lead lessons in their sports, or volunteering with sports programs in the community.
“The district as a whole will benefit from promoting the culture of school spirit,” he said.
In his free time, Mr. Zehner, a resident of Wappingers Falls, enjoys golfing, hiking, playing sports and spending time with his family and dog.
Liberty Wall of Fame inducts special education pioneer, community leader
Two Liberty Central School District alumni shared a special moment on Friday, June 27, as one was honored with induction into the Wall of Fame and the other spoke in tribute to her late father, who was also being inducted.
The 14th annual Liberty Wall of Fame induction ceremony took place in the Liberty High School auditorium recognizing Class of 1979 graduate Samuel Sanders Jr. and Class of 1948 graduate Albert Van Dyke.
“Each of our inductees represents a unique blend of personal and professional achievements,” said Liberty Interim Assistant Superintendent Marianne Serratore. “Together, they reflect the spirit, pride, and legacy of the Liberty Central School District and the broader Liberty community.”
Albert Van Dyke
Van Dyke’s daughter Diane Mutter took the stage first to accept the honor on his behalf. She briefly spoke of his accomplishments as a trailblazer in special education, a devoted community leader, and a champion for students with special needs.
She spoke of the early days when he established the district’s first special education class, which 10 years later expanded into a countywide program under Sullivan County BOCES. The organization’s first director of special education, he created and expanded programs at a time when special education was often overlooked.
Van Dyke was also an Eagle Scout, a member and Sunday School superintendent of the Liberty United Methodist Church, and a participant in civic organizations such as the Liberty Lions Club and the Sullivan County Mental Health Board. A historian and collector of local artifacts, he donated more than 2,000 cataloged postcards to the Sullivan County Museum.
Whether helping a Liberty graduate become a police officer by arranging for a civil service test to be read aloud or even rescuing two small children from a burning building, Van Dyke’s selflessness knew no bounds.
Van Dyke continued to serve his community after his 20-year career at BOCES by designing and implementing the county’s preschool special education program.
But what stood out to Mutter the most was his role as a father and family man. She recalled him teaching her how to bowl, play horseshoes, as well as all his work in the greater community.
“I miss him,” she said. “I miss his humor, and I miss his help, but I don’t miss his love, as it lives on.”
Samuel Sanders Jr.
Sanders’ friend and former teammate Dean Smith spoke next, telling stories of their days in Liberty.
As a standout multi-sport athlete, Sanders was a four-year varsity basketball player, team captain and two-time recipient of the Ivan Richards MVP Award. His athletic talents led him to play at Mansfield College, earn all-star status in a semi-pro league, and receive a tryout with the New Jersey Nets.
But where Sanders shined was helping others, especially the children of Liberty, so much so that he literally gave them the clothes off his back.
“His clothes can be found across Liberty because he gave his gear away to kids who wanted it,” Smith said.
Sanders is founder of Rising Stars Basketball, worked as a coach at LHS as well as the Hudson Valley Hawks and Hudson Valley Rivermen, where he has shaped the lives of many aspiring athletes.
For Sanders, it is all about community and family. After receiving his award, Sanders brought the family members who were in attendance on to the stage to recognize all they had done for him. He also thanked members and the pastor of his church, Friendship Baptist, for inspiring him.
Finding a place for everyone has been his hallmark. He has organized community events such as the “Pursuing Your Dreams” workshop and the “Fathers and Men’s Unity Event” as well as mentored prisoners.
“I love everyone,” Sanders said. “It doesn’t matter your race or your color.”
Each of the honorees were also presented with proclamations from state Assembly Member Paula Elaine Kay, state Senator Peter Oberacker and the county legislature.
The Wall of Fame was established in 2011 by the Board of Education to honor extraordinary alumni. Nominees are judged on exceptional accomplishments and significant contributions within their career, community or personal life.
Superintendent offers update on DCIP
Dear Liberty,
As we prepare for the end of the school year, I would like to take this opportunity to provide our school community with an update on the District’s Strategic Plan and Comprehensive Improvement Plan. In our ongoing effort to help students innovate, persevere and thrive, we’ve made meaningful progress toward our strategic priorities.
This year, we continued advancing the Strategic Plan’s pillars of MTSS, Curriculum, Culture and Coherence. Building on the work of previous years, we introduced several key initiatives, including the implementation of our new curriculum mapping platform, Eduplanet, and the launch of the Syracuse University Project Advanced Biology course at Liberty High School. We also continued to expand the use of our Woz Ed STEM-based curriculum, grew our Student-Led Conference initiatives, and piloted a data warehouse program designed to help us more efficiently analyze and support our students’ academic, social and emotional growth.
While I’m happy to share additional details about ongoing initiatives, I especially want to highlight the District Comprehensive Improvement Plan (DCIP) goals we achieved this year, as these accomplishments reflect the collective work of our students, administrators, faculty, staff and community.
Here is an update on our growth towards achieving our DCIP Priorities
Priority 1: Provide an accessible, culturally responsive, relevant, engaging, vertically and horizontally aligned PK-12 curriculum, that makes connections to our students and community.
- We are especially proud of our growth in math proficiency. We easily met our goal of 7% growth per grade level since the start of the year. Based on Renaissance STAR Math testing, all grades measured showed substantial increases, with many gaining more than 20%.
- In two other areas, reading proficiency and student engagement, results were mixed, but overall positive.
- Based on Renaissance STAR Reading testing, all but one grade level saw growth. While grades 2-4 had increases far above the 7% goal (18.9-36.6%), grades 5–8 had more modest gains (1.1%–5%).
- Using Triangle survey data on student engagement, the district had hoped to see a 5% increase in positive responses on student engagement in the classroom. Middle school responders met the goal across all survey items. While there was progress in some areas, responses at the high school level did not fully meet the goal and showed some declines, which influenced the overall results.
End-of-year testing passing rates and Regents scores for the secondary level are not yet available. However, we anticipate positive gains and look forward to reviewing the results.
Priority 2: Provide a MTSS (multi-tiered system of supports) for academics, behavior and attendance that cultivates wellness and safety for students, staff and families.
- The district set a goal to achieve a 10% reduction in the number of students receiving out-of-school suspensions districtwide. This goal was exceeded during the 2024–25 school year, with the number of suspended students decreasing from 132 in 2023–24 to 97—a reduction of 35 students, or 26.5%. This outcome significantly surpassed the original target, more than doubling the anticipated decrease in out-of-school suspensions.
- Building on efforts to improve student engagement, the District also aimed to reduce chronic absenteeism by 5% from the 2023–24 to the 2024–25 school year. At the end of the 2023–24 school year, the chronic absenteeism rate was 39.7%. As of June 10, it has declined to 38.6%, marking a 1.1% reduction. While this reflects modest progress, chronic absenteeism remains a widespread national issue—one that demands ongoing attention and resources. Students must be present to fully engage in learning and succeed academically.
- An additional goal under Priority 2 was to achieve a 5% decrease in the number of students identified as at-risk based on DESSA (Social and Emotional Screener) results by June 2025. We did see a small reduction (1%) in students identified as at-risk, but many more showed as having strong social and emotional skills (6%). This positive shift suggests growth in students’ social-emotional skills and well-being, even as we continue working toward the targeted reduction in at-risk classifications.
- Lastly, we aimed for a 5% increase in students feeling safe, as measured by the Student Voice Triangle Survey. While the elementary level experienced a 6% decrease in positive responses, the middle school successfully met the goal with a 5% increase. The high school showed no change compared to last year. This remains an important area of focus, and we will continue to explore ways to ensure all students feel safe and supported in their learning environments.
Priority 3: Create a positive, welcoming student centered environment that celebrates diversity and inclusivity to empower students, staff and families.
- Our goals for Priority 3 focused on increasing family and community engagement through student-led conferences, parent-teacher conference attendance and participation in schoolwide and community events. We successfully met our target of a minimum of five student-led conferences per building, demonstrating clear areas of student growth.
- While we did not have precise data for the 10% increase in parent attendance at fall and spring parent-teacher conferences, we observed strong participation at family engagement nights and other events. Notably, our Winter Fest attracted more than 150 attendees, meeting the goal for large community event attendance.
- Additionally, participation in schoolwide family events showed a positive increase throughout the year.
- These outcomes highlight encouraging progress in building stronger connections with families and the community, and we will continue to refine our tracking methods to better measure and support these efforts moving forward.
These results demonstrate that while we are making meaningful progress, there is still important work ahead. We remain committed to doing everything possible to ensure Liberty is a great place to learn
Sincerely,
Dr. Patrick Sullivan
Superintendent
Free meals for children to be available
Liberty Central School District will again offer free summer meals to all children 18 and younger through the USDA’s Summer Food Service Program.
Starting June 30, sit-down and bagged breakfasts and lunches will be served at Francis A. Hanofee Park at 136 Sunset Lake Road in Liberty. Breakfast will be served from 8 to 9 a.m., with lunch served from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Meals will be served weekdays, except Friday, July 4, through Aug. 18 at the park. From Aug. 18 to 22, meals will be served at Liberty Elementary, with breakfast offered from 8:15 to 9 a.m. and breakfast from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
A link to the menus will be available on the district website’s Food Services Department page when they are available.
For more information, contact Assistant Superintendent for Business Laurene McKenna at 845-292-6171 or lmmckenna@libertyk12.org.
Traffic patterns to be adjusted at LES starting June 23
Beginning Monday, June 23, the entire Main Street entrance and the “Kiss and Drop” parking lot at Liberty Elementary will be temporarily closed due to ongoing construction repairs of the box culvert hole in front of the school. This change will impact all parking and traffic patterns until further notice.
Below are the procedures:
Drop-Off Procedures
- Morning drop-off begins at 7:15 a.m.
- The North Main Street entrance will be CLOSED to all vehicle and foot traffic.
- All drop-off traffic must enter campus via the rear School Street driveway.
- Vehicles will loop through the parking lot and pull up along the curb near the main entrance.
- No parking is allowed in the drop-off line. Staff will assist students exiting vehicles between 7:45 and 9 a.m.
- All students must enter through the main entrance.
- Walking drop-off is strongly encouraged. Pedestrians must enter campus from School Street and use the sidewalk to walk to the main entrance.
Please note:
- From about 7:38 to 7:53 a.m., the rear driveway will be closed temporarily as buses begin to arrive.
- Civilian vehicles will not be permitted to enter or remain on campus during this time and will be directed to wait off-campus. Municipal parking can be utilized to support walking drop off.
- Foot traffic will also be restricted while students are disembarking from buses. Families may release students at the front of the bus line to join the bus students walking in.
- The driveway will reopen once all buses have cleared the area.
Dismissal procedures
- From about 2:15 to 2:40 p.m. on full days and 11:40 a.m. to 12:05 p.m. on half days, no civilian vehicles or pedestrians will be permitted to enter or access the rear School Street driveway while buses are staging and loading students.
- Once all buses have departed and the area is cleared (about 2:40 p.m. on full days and 12:05 p.m. on half days), the rear driveway will reopen for both vehicle and foot traffic.
- Escort pick-up will then. from the same locations as previously assigned except for third grade and A. Philips class, which will be dismissed outside of door 6 near the cafeteria windows.
- Vehicle traffic will enter campus through the rear School Street driveway, loop through the parking lot and park in designated areas only.
- Do not double park, block traffic flow, or park in unauthorized areas.
- All foot traffic will use the sidewalks and crosswalks to walk to and from your child’s assigned pick-up location.
- Consider using the municipal parking if campus parking is full. The Lemonade parking lot is not to be used for pick up or drop off
LCSD music education honored for sixth consecutive year by NAMM Foundation
For the sixth year in a row, Liberty Central School District has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from the NAMM Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education.
To qualify for the Best Communities designation, Liberty answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program and community music-making programs. Responses were verified by school officials and reviewed by The Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas.
“Music education is essential to the development of the whole child. It nurtures creativity, builds discipline, strengthens cognitive and motor skills, and promotes emotional expression,” LCSD Director of Music Eric Aweh said. “Participation in music fosters collaboration, boosts confidence and cultivates a sense of community. Through music, students learn not only how to create and perform, but also how to listen, lead and connect. A well-rounded education is incomplete without the inclusion of the arts, and music is a vital part of that foundation.”
Liberty musicians and vocalists take part in a variety of events throughout the year, including concerts, ensembles, parades, all-county and all-state events, and the Liberty Jazz Festival. On Wednesday, June 11, the LCSD Music Department will host its annual Liberty Music and Community Festival at 4:30 p.m. in Lapolt Park. The rain date is Friday, June 13.
“The educational experience would not be complete without music,” Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan said. “We appreciate the NAMM Foundation’s continued recognition of our dedication to providing a quality music education for our students.”
Now in its 26th year, the Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students. The NAMM Foundation is a nonprofit supported in part by the National Association of Music Merchants. For more information about The NAMM Foundation, visit www.nammfoundation.org.
Liberty CSD voters approve $68.5M school budget proposal, $7.5M capital project
On Tuesday, May 20, voters in the Liberty Central School District approved, 658-131, the district’s $68.5 million budget proposal for the 2025-26 school year.
“We thank the residents of Liberty Central School District for their continued support so we can empower our students to contribute and thrive in a diverse community by pursuing their potential,” Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan said. “We are also happy we could present a budget that, for the seventh year in a row, did not increase the tax levy.”
The $68,508,362 budget funds all current student programs and services as the district continues its vertical and horizontal alignment of curriculum, adding the curriculum management platform Eduplanet to aid in curriculum mapping. The district is also expanding partnerships with colleges and universities to offer additional credit-bearing classes for high school students.
Voters also approved a nearly $7.5 million capital project, 616-167. The project will add air conditioning to the elementary school to address recent state legislation that sets 88 degrees as the maximum temperature in educational and support services spaces. The project also includes related boiler and electrical upgrades. There is no expected tax levy impact, as fund balances will be used to offset the costs not covered by state reimbursements.
“We are glad that this project was approved so that we can help keep our students cool in a more cost-effective manner by working this into our ongoing project,” Dr. Sullivan said.
Three board of education members were elected to three-year terms on the board. John L. Nichols with 761 votes, Timothy Hamblin with 759 votes and Matthew DeWitt with 762 votes Also on the ballot were: Miriam Rivka Singer who received 28 votes, and Miriam Heimlich who received 27 votes. Six write-in votes were also cast: four for Richard Ienuso and one each for Mike Grosman and Pamela Hamlin.
Groundbreaking set for Phase 1 of capital project
Dirt will soon be moved for the Liberty Central School District capital project that was approved by voters in January 2024. Following final approval by the state Education Department earlier this month, Phase 1 of the project is set to begin on June 16.
A ceremonial groundbreaking ceremony will take place at the football field at 9 a.m. Friday, June 13, featuring officials from the district as well as project partners construction management firm Schoolhouse Construction, design and architecture firm LAN Associates, and construction firm Clark Companies, who is contracted to complete the work for the athletic field improvements..
Phase1 of the project includes construction of the maintenance building; athletic facility improvements, including the installation of a new synthetic turf field, track and field improvements, installation of a grandstand and press box, and installation of new athletic field lighting; upgrades to the HVAC controls at the middle and high school; upgrades to the carbon monoxide alarm system and replacement of exterior stairs at the high school; and replacements of some interior doors at the middle school.
Retesting shows lead levels in water below action level at Liberty schools
On May 2, Liberty Central School District completed follow up testing on 10 sinks that were found to have lead levels above action level during lead in water testing in April.
Following remediation, water from all 10 sinks was retested and all locations were found to have levels below the action level of 5 parts per billion.
More information and links to the full first and second round reports are available here.
Budget vote, BOE election, meetings set for May 20
The Annual Budget Vote and Election will be on Tuesday, May 20, with voting in the High School Media Center from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Information regarding the budget vote and election can be found at the Liberty CSD website.
The Board of Education will hold a Special Meeting at 6 p.m. May 20 in the District Office and they anticipate to enter into executive session immediately and to adjourn at its conclusion. There will be no other business and this meeting is not open to the public.
The Board of Education will convene a second Special Meeting after 8 p.m. in the HS Media Center at the conclusion of ballot counting in the High School Gymnasium to accept the results of the ballot. There will be no other business. This meeting and vote counting and tabulation is open to the public. The agendas will be available on Monday, May 19, at BoardDocs for both meetings.
The next regular Board of Education meeting will be on Tuesday, May 27, 2025.